Mali's junta bans opposition coalition: decree

Dakar: Mali s ruling junta has banned the activities of a rare new opposition coalition in Bamako citing threats of disturbance to public order, acc...

Dakar: Mali's ruling junta has banned the activities of a rare new opposition coalition in Bamako citing "threats of disturbance to public order," according to an official decree seen by AFP on Tuesday.

The country has been under military rule since back-to-back coups in 2020 and 2021, with the security situation compounded by a humanitarian and political crisis.

The coalition, named "Action Synergy for Mali", was set up in February and is made up of 30 opposition parties including supporters of an influential imam, Mahmoud Dicko.

"Due to the security situation and the risk of threats to public order, the activities of the 'Action Synergy for Mali' group are formally banned throughout the entire district of Bamako," said a decree dated on Monday from the capital's governor Abdoulaye Coulibaly.

The coalition rejected the ban, describing it as an "illegitimate and illegal decision that violates the freedom of association and expression guaranteed by the constitution".